Collapsible vertical transfer-file.



PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

C. M. GARNAH'AN. COLLAPSIBLE VERTICAL-TRANSFER FILE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN .26, 1905.

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CHARLES M. CARNAHAN, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLOBE-WERNICKE COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OH IO.

COLLAPSIBLE VERTICAL TRANSFER-FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed January 26, 1905. Serial No. 242,777.

To att whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. CARNA- HAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Vertical Transfer-Files, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to vertical-filing sys tems, by which is meant the filing of letters, papers, &c., on edge in upright position instead of fiat on top of one another.

For many purposes the vertical-filing system possesses features that make it peculiarly valuable. Among the principal features of this system when used in connection with the card index and folders are its adaptability to classifying in various ways, concentration-of all papers from one concern or on one subject in a single folder, and accessibility and convenience of those folders. The vertical cabinets used in these systems are fitted with files in which the contents are placed on edge, usually in folders, in upright position between indexed guides, the files being fitted with an adjustable block or follower to keep the contents in position.

The numerical classification of contents is the most generally adopted system of vertical filing. It is in very extensive use for filing correspondence, especially in large establishments. This system contemplates the filing of letters in folders numbered consecutively, which are placed on edge in vertical files between guides numbered at intervals. Each folder is designed to hold copies of original letters sent, as well as replies received, with one concern or on one subject. The folders are numbered consecutively from one up. The guides are numbered at intervals of usually twenty and are for the purpose of facilitating reference to the folders contained between them. -It is very desirable in this system of vertical filing to provide transfer-cases, in which when a file is filled its contents may be removed bodily and placed vertically in the same relative position in the transfer-file, which is of the same dimensions as the initial file; and the object of my present invention is to provide such a transfer-file which shall be simple and cheap case; Fig. 2, its sides, partially folded; Fig. 3,

its bottom; Fig. 4, the case entirely collapsed, with the parts fitted together for shipping or storage; Fig. 5 the case put together ready for use, with the lid or cover omitted.

The case is made of tolerably stiff tarboard, of which the bottom 1 is a rectangular piece, having secured upon its upper side a board or boards 2, serving two or three fold purpose, the first being to stiffen the bottom piece, the second to afford means for tacking or nailing the bottom edges of the side pieces to the outer edges of the board, which stand a little in from the outer edges of the bottom 1, as seen in Fig. 3, and the third, where two boards are employed, as shown, to form a guide-groove for the pendent tangs usually employed on the index-cards in filing systems of this character.

The sides of the box are composed of six pieces of cardboard, of which 4 are the long unbroken sides, and 5 the end pieces, of which there are two at each end. These are united on their vertical edges by pasted strips of textile material 6, which not only serve to unite the parts, but form hingejoints to permit the sides to be folded down, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, and in Fig. 4 the sides are shown completelyfolded down and resting upon the bottom of the box. The lid 7, likewise made of tar-board, is shallow and constructed as the lid of any ordinary paper box would be, and it is provided with downturned flanges 9, Fig. 4, which fit snuglyover the side pieces and board or boards 2 and rests upon the projecting ends of the bottom 1, as seen in Fig. 4, when the case is in its knockdown or collapsed condition, ready for shipment or storage, and in which it takes up very little space, which is a great advantage in crating the cases for shipment.

When intended for use, the side and end pieces 4 and 5 are opened out, as seen in Fig. 5, with their lower edges snugly fitting over the outer edges of the board or boards 2 and upon the projecting ends of the bottom 1, and they are secured in place by short nails or rather long tacks 8, driven through the sides and ends into the edges of the board or boards, thus completing the case upon which the lid or cover 7 will snugly fit. The front of the case is provided with a label toindicate its contents and a loop or other convenient projecting means 9 for drawing it out from its position on the shelf. In this simple manner I provide a transfer-case which is neat in appearance, but is cheap and durable and is collapsible in the manner and for the purposes stated.

Having thus fully described my invention, Iclaim i l. A collapsible, vertical file, comprising a solid bottom, with an upwardly-extending telescopic interior bottom secured to the first-named bottom and forming a templet to which the side and end pieces fit over and are irremovably secured, side and end pieces hinged together so as to be folded flat upon themselves and rest upon the bottom, and a solid lid or cover adapted to cover said side and'end pieces and rest upon the bottom. when the case is collapsed and, whereby when the parts are separated, the side and end pieces may be unfolded and secured at their lower edges to the bottom of the case at its edges and the lid or cover be fitted upon the top of said side and end pieces, substantially as described.

2. A collapsible, vertical file, comprising a bottom with a board secured on its upper side and extending nearly to the edges of the bottom, side pieces extending the length of the case, two end pieces for each end of the case, said side pieces and end pieces being united by hinge-joints to permit the sides and ends to be folded upon each other and when opened to be secured at their lower edges by nails tothe wooden board and rest upon the projecting bottom of the case, and a 'solid lid or cover adapted to snugly fit over the top edges of the side and end pieces, substantially as described.

3. A collapsible, vertical file, comprising a bottom with boards secured on its upper side to afford a longitudinal groove between the same and extending nearly to the edges of the bottom, side pieces extending the length of the case, two end pieces for each end of the case, said side pieces and end pieces being united by hinge-joints to permit the sides and ends to be folded upon each other and when opened to be secured. at their lower edges by nails to the wooden boards and rest upon the projecting bottom of the case, and a solid lid or cover adapted to snugly fit over the top edges of the side and end pieces, substantially as described.

CHARLES M. CARNAHAN.

Witnesses:

JAMES C. HALLIDAY, T. B. LINNARD. 

